Younger children and older people have a higher risk of cold injury, as they are unable to regulate their body temperature as efficiently and tend to lose heat more quickly.

People under the influence of alcohol or drugs may not be as alert to the cold and may not immediately notice the discomfort of cold exposure that can lead to ice burns.

Prevention

To prevent ice burns, people should wear appropriate clothing for cold temperatures or high-velocity winds.

Also, when using an ice pack, people should ensure that it does not directly touch the skin. Placing a cloth or towel in between the ice pack and the skin can help to prevent ice burns.

Scarring

An ice burn may cause scarring, depending on which layers of the skin it affects.

Ice burns can cause scarring. The likelihood of scarring depends on many factors, including the area of the ice burn and how many layers of tissue are affected.

The skin consists of several layers. These include an outer layer, known as the epidermis, and a lower layer, called the dermis. Beneath these layers are tissues that include muscles, tendons, and other connective tissue.

If a burn only penetrates the epidermis, it may not cause significant scarring. However, injuries that affect the dermis or the tissues beneath it are more complex wounds that can leave scars.

Ice burn vs. frostbite

There is little difference between ice burn and frostbite. The term ice burn refers to burns that result from contact with ice or ice packs.

Frostbite occurs when the exposure of parts of the body to extremely cold temperatures freezes the skin and the tissue beneath it.

Frostbite that penetrates the deeper layers of the skin and damages tissue and bone can cause permanent damage.

First aid and treatment

Upon getting an ice burn, a person should immediately be taking the following actions:

If the affected area remains white, dark, or gray rather than pink or red and does not start tingling or burning as it warms up, this could signify more extensive damage that requires medical attention.

Anyone concerned about an ice burn should speak to a doctor for a proper evaluation.